Ride the Rapids of Your Own Volition
There is great power in circulation, but you must swim to meet it.
My sister leans belly-forward against a small (but nimble) inflatable raft, the brim of her cap pulled low in defense of the bright summer sun, a paddle deftly wielded in the river current. “I’m gonna need you to start crossing over to the other side,” she calls to our trailing companion, looking aloof atop his own inflatable raft.
We are on a lazy river, a 35-minute traverse in the Deschutes River that requires a floatie, any kind of floatie — from large, perfectly round, heavy-duty inflatable rafts stamped with the logo of the local rental outfitter and loaded with delighted tourists here to soak in the majestic beauty and outdoor recreational scene of Central Oregon, USA, to doing it like a local, with nothing but zipped-up life-vests and flip-flop sandals on your hands for paddles.
My sister’s voice increases in urgency, “You need to start crossing to the other side of the river bank. Like, now.”
The bend in the river that served as “take out,” depositing boaters on the other side of the parking lot from whence they “put in,” was coming up quickly in the river’s natural current. Cold, clear water pushed you forward. If you didn’t read the terrain, you could easily find yourself in trouble.
Not far down the waterway were rapids and rocky shorelines. Any pointy stick could put an end to your plastic floatation and you will find yourself in a very real sink or swim situation.
But our companion still wasn’t grokking the severity of his situation; paddle hard this way or have a really, really shitty rest-of-your-day. He was caught up in a circulation that was out of his control.
A sternness takes over. My sister is a natural leader, she knows how to rise to meet the river’s currency rather than get swept away by it in chaos. “This is your last chance to get to the put out,” she warns, “you’re going to have to haul ass over here.”
He panics and is slow to recover, “I’ll just go around again!” he waves enthusiastically… and “NOOO!” is the resounding reply.
This was no man-made lazy river, and endless loop of passive floating; this was a quick current that led far, far away. He had no choice but to flail, reach a steep and rocky shoreline to climb and sacrifice a sandal in the process.
“Were you scared?” my sister asks later, when we were all loading wet and sandy inflatable lounges and pool rafts into the back of her trusty Nissan Pathfinder. He stammers and deflects and she levels him with her gaze, “because you should have been.”
Our friend wasn’t able to meet the current and he wasn’t able to generate enough of his own momentum to tap into its awesome power.
Luckily for this story, my man was only one sandal down and a small sucker punch to his dignity. “The Vacation Gods are cruel!” he declares lightheartedly, and we are all relieved that no one is worse for wear.
On that day, I learned more than how to pilot a large inflatable couch with only my Chako sandals strapped to my hands, paddling madly to avoid those aforementioned sticks and merge with the flowing current that would take me on a spectacular journey through the Pacific Northwestern paradise that is Bend, Oregon. I learned that there is great power in circulation, but you must swim to meet it.
What’s more, you can’t just assume that once you align your floatie with the power of the current, whatever is around the bend is safe and serene, you must ride the rapids under your own volition.
I’m taking this life lesson to a spiritual level.
Circulation comes in four forms: cash, creativity, connections, and collaboration.
“I circulate this creativity back to me multiplied in a never-ending cycle of increase and enjoyment,” my money mentor taught me this meditation and it reminds me of the mighty Deschutes, clear and clean and ready to bob you joyfully through a valley of business building and rich rewards, as long as you are bringing your own momentum to the mix.
I want everyone within my digital reach to be brave enough to stop letting life just wash over you, or worse, push you aggressively towards uncharted territory without a paddle (or even a flip flop sandal)… and learn to pilot your own destiny, trusting the business model beneath your butt and navigating the current of entrepreneurial endeavors with gusto.
Me? I am pouring my creativity into this writing, in the hopes that when it circulates among the connections that are forming here at The Founder’s Society, it will inspire collaboration and generate cash.
After all, a rising tide does, indeed, lift all boats. And rafts. And inflatable couches. And earnest enthusiasts outfitted in nothing but a PDF and a dream. Together we are buoyant on the river of self-employment and sovereignty. <waves enthusiastically, power-paddle in hand>
What are you currently circulating to harness this energy and amplify the vast amount of rich resources and rewards in circulation, so you can then hook up a tap? Tell me how you plan to set sail in the comments.